Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

ringworm

(Encyclopedia)ringworm or tinea tĭnˈēə [key], superficial eruption of the skin caused by a fungus, chiefly Microsporum, Trichophyton, or Epidermophyton. Any area of the skin may be affected, including the scalp...

mushroom

(Encyclopedia)CE5 The poisonous mushroom Amanita mushroom, type of basidium fungus characterized by spore-bearing gills on the underside of the umbrella- or cone-shaped cap. The name toadstool is popularly rese...

Paris green

(Encyclopedia)Paris green, also called Schweinfurt green, an extremely poisonous, bright green powder that was formerly used extensively as a pigment (e.g., in wallpaper) and that is sometimes used as an insecticid...

decay of organic matter

(Encyclopedia)decay of organic matter or putrefaction, process whereby heterotrophic organisms, including some bacteria, fungi, saprophytic plants, and lower animals, utilize the remains of once-living tissue as a ...

Fries, Elias Magnus

(Encyclopedia)Fries, Elias Magnus ĕlēˈäs mängˈnəs frēs [key], 1794–1878, Swedish botanist. He taught (1834–59) at the Univ. of Uppsala. Fries originated the modern classification of fungi and lichens. H...

Streptomyces

(Encyclopedia)Streptomyces strĕpˌtəmīˈsēz [key], bacterial genus of the order Actinomycetales, members of which resemble fungi in their branching filamentous structure. Various species produce such antibiotic...

saprophyte

(Encyclopedia)saprophyte săpˈrəfītˌ [key], any plant that depends on dead plant or animal tissue for a source of nutrition and metabolic energy, e.g., most fungi (molds) and a few flowering plants, such as Ind...

mold

(Encyclopedia)mold, name for certain multicellular organisms of the various classes of the kingdom Fungi, characteristically having bodies composed of a cottony mycelium. The colors of molds are caused by the spore...

heterotroph

(Encyclopedia)heterotroph hĕtˈərətrōfˌ [key], living organism that obtains its energy from carbohydrates and other organic material. All animals and most bacteria and fungi are heterotrophic. In contrast, aut...

blight

(Encyclopedia)blight, general term for any sudden and severe plant disease or for the agent that causes it. The term is now applied chiefly to diseases caused by bacteria (e.g., bean blights and fire blight of frui...